Man&#39;s undergarment



f3 um Filed 1946 mnnl u R. WISE Flled March 7, 1946 eis-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE MANs UNnERGARMEN'r Rothermel Wise, Lancaster, la. Applicatin Marchv', 194s, 'serial Nb. 652,551

This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in mens undergarmentsand more particularly to that type of undergarment'known as athletic shorts.

An object of this inventionis to produce an undergarment having an improved buttonless fly opening which is particularly applicable for snug tting garments, as it will not gap open.

' A further object of the invention is to provid a ily structure having a .minimum overlap in order to facilitate use of the garment by the wearer. A still further 'object is to provide an undergarment with a rreenforced area to limit stretching of the garment in a direction parallel to the elastic band secured to the top of the garment, such reenforced'area serving to prevent the fly opening from gaping regardless of the position of the wearer when seated or when'walking or bending.

At the present time, mens athletic shorts are provided with ny openingsbetween overlapping parts having free edges. With such arrangement itis diflcult, particularly in close iitting garments, to form theparts defining the opening in such manner that they will not separate asa result of sagging or becoming'stretched, particularly when the weareris seated, bending, or striding. To overcome that objectionable feature, the parts have heretofore been commonly constructed with a wide overlap which isY inconvenient in use for obvious reasons and, `as a result of the wide overlap, the distortioniof the parts required when the opening is to be used is so great fas to cause discomfort to the wearer, as a result of the garment binding and cutting'into his body. The usual result is that a compromise construction is adopted in which the partsof the ny may be separated without too much discomfort, but when the opening is not in use, the parts defining it do not lie snugly in place and, consequently, they detract from the appearancel ofthe garment and are uncomfortable to the wearer. s'

The present invention is, accordingly, directed tothe provision of a garment `of the type described which includes a ily of novel 'construction and,in the new garment, the parts of the fly lie in proper position without gaping or bindingan'd the garment thus has a trim appearance. The parts, however, may be readily separated to provide the desired opening and they are* so constructed that they yield freely for this purpose. The ily opening-.can thus vbe employed without discomfort and after such-use, the partsimmediately assume and remain in their original trim positions. Y u Y. A K

a claims. (c1. l242er) The desired results are obtained in the new garment` by providing a .narrow overlap on the ny opening and providing adequate reenforcing in thevarea in which theily is located to hold the ily area against lateral ,displacement to any sub.- stantial extent which would. result in gaping. SuchV a construction is obtained by providing a piece vof relatively linelastic tape or other re,- enforcementacross the entire frontof the garment immediately above the fly opening and an..

' other stripof relatively inelastic tape or similar reenforcementA across the garment immediately below the flyl opening. f These two inelastic ybands extending substantially 'horizontally acrossthe full width ofthe garment prevent it from .stretching laterally inthe vicinity of the fly,

...For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be hadtothe accompanying drawingsinwhich: ,V

. Fig. lis a front elevational View of a pair of shorts withoutleg coverings embodying my invention;`...

Fig. 2 is a similar View of a pair of shorts having leg coveringportions; i

y Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 1 showing the fly overlap;

Fig. 4" is a front elevational View showing a modification of the invention; and.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing a still further modicationlof vthe invention. Y ReferringU to Fig; lithere is shown a conventional pair of fathletic type shorts comprising a front panel 2' made "of knitted fabric having its wales running vertically thereby rendering it ca,- pable of stretching readily ina direction parallel to. the length of the elastic, band 3 'attachedgto the top ofthe garment,;but it is. not capable of stretching to any substantial extent in aA direction perpendicular to the lengthofthe elastic band 3. AThis front panel extends from thewaist.- line substantially tothe groin line of the garment and from side to side thereof. Below the Afront pane1'2 aretwo'intermediate panels 4 and Sex.- tendingV from the groin line downwardly to and terminating justl above the crotch. The waleszof these intermediatepanels maybe disposed either in a vertical or horizontal direction. A Alower crotch panelis also'provided..

The intermediate panels, and 5 are formed of two thicknesses of fabric and theL panels define a fly-construction generally `indicated ati., .As shown in Fig. 3, the fly opening is made 'up cfa piece of tubular fabric 8 stitched .to the double thickness Aof. fabric. constituting, intermediate panel g4 and a similar piece of tubular .fabric 9,L

3 which is stitched to the intermediate panel 5. The tubular fabric portions 8 and 9 are in overlapping relationship and constitute the whole overlap of the garment at the ily. It will be obvious that with such construction the garment will be more convenient and comfortable.

Since the upper panel 2 is capable of stretch in a direction parallel to the elastic band 3, and this is necessary toinsure proper iitting of the garment, means must be provided for preventing such stretch in the zone of the ily opening I if gaping is to be avoided. This may be accom-v plished in a number of different ways. In the preferred embodiment a reenforcing piece I is provided which joins the front panel 2 andY the intermediate panels 4 and 5. This reenforcing; piece ID is stitched to the panels 2, 4 and 5- after L the tubular fabric pieces 8 and 9 deiining the fly opening have been stitched to the panels 4 and 5 respectively, so that it is attached not only to such panels but also the fabric members 8 and 9 deiining the fly opening l. The reenforcing piece IG may be formed of tubular Afabric similar to the pieces 8 and 9. In any event it must be of some material which will not stretch appreplace of tubular fabric, the reenforcingmay be made of bias tape or other material which is 4 f which will prevent any substantial lateral stretch-i ing of the intermediate panels which would result in gaping at the ily opening.

Fig. 5 shows a further modification in which the intermediate panels 4' and 5 are disposed vin such a mannerV as to have the direction of the t wales running horizontally instead of vertically. Y

This structure also prevents lateral stretching in the area of the iy since the knitted material of which the garment is made' is substantially inelastic in the direction parallel to the direction of the wales. In this type structure it is not nec- A essary to use the reenforcing members IIJ and II Vor the stitched bands I8 and I9; however, these Vmay be usedrfor decorative purposes. I have shown a simple, zig-zag type of stitching for joining the intermediate panels 4 and 5 to the front panel and the crotch panel. This type of stitching is commonly used for seaming.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the panels 4 and 5 do not have tobe made of the knitted material commonly used inthis type garment, but may be made of any type inelastic material which would serve to prevent stretching in the v2li ciably in the direction of the arrow C-C. Inv

substantially inextensible in a lengthwise direci tion.

The lower ends of the panels 4 and 5 arebound the ily opening is bounded above and below by re-V enforcements which will not stretch to any substantial extent and which serve to hold the panels 4 and 5 against lateral distortion which would result in gaping of the ily opening. It will be noted also that the reenforcing elements extend to substantially' the ends of the panels 4 and 5 and in the case of the element I0 it connects with the side'seams I2 and I3, while in the case of element II it connects with the leg bands I4 and I5 to hold or box-in the y portion of the garment. Any lateral stretch which might re'- sult in gaping is thus effectively inhibited, for the` intermediate panels 4 and 5 vwhich areV formed into the y opening at 1 are bounded along both upper and lower edges by the reenforcements VIll area of the ily. It is preferred ofcourse to have the whole garment Yformed of knitted fabric as shown in thevarious views.

In all forms of this garment the fly overlap is small, being only the width of the tubing 8 and 9, generally about one inch, but the garment is so constructed as to prevent lateral stretching in the area of the fly,.thereby preventing the'fly from gaping. At the same time, the ily may be Y employed for its intended purpose without diilculty, since the overlap is slight. Y Y While I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of theV invention it willV be understood that the invention is not so limited Y but may be practicedewithin the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim: Y 1. An undergarment composed of knitted material comprising a composite front panel having upper,.intermediate and lower sections, the upper and intermediate sections extending from side to side, the said upper section extending from the waistline to substantially the groin line of the garment and from side to side thereof, the interl mediate section extending from said groin line and II and the ily defining members 8 and 9 are also secured to the reenforcements.

In Fig. 2 asimilar construction is shown except that instead of leg bands I4 and I5, the garment is provded'with leg cover portions I6 and I'I. It,

will be noted that in this construction the reenforcing piece II as well as the reenforcing piece II] is extended to the side seams I2 and I3 of thegarment and thus,\like the construction of Fig. l, prevent stretch in the fly opening area.

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 4, af

relatively wide band of stitches indicated at I8 and I9 replace the reenforcing fabric I0 and I I.

The bands of stitches are in the same areas as the pieces Il) and I I and serve to prevent the garment from stretching. This may be accomplishedV by; use of a"Merrow type sewing machine of thel nine needle type set to stitch a pattern such asl shown in Fig. 4 and providea; reeni'orcement .f garment and from side to side thereof, the interdownwardly to andterminating just above the crotch, said intermediatey section comprising two panels overlapping each other at the center ofy the garment and forming aily opening, the lower section being attached to the lower edge of the intermediate section and forming the front ci. the crotch portion of the garment; said upper section having its wales running in a vertical direction to provide horizontal stretch of the garment, and

relatively inelastic means connecting thev upperV and intermediatesections and the intermediate and lower sections and extending across thegar-n ment from side to side thereof. Y

2. An undergarment composed of knitted material comprisingV a composite front panel havingY upper, intermediate and lower sections, the upper and intermediate sections extending from side to side, the said upper section extending from the waistline to substantially the groin line of the mediate section extending from saidv groin line downwardly to andV terminating just above the crotch, said intermediate section comprising two panels overlapping each other at the center of the garment and forming a fly opening, the lowersection being attached to the lower edge of the,

intermediate section and forming the front of the crotch portion of the garment, said upper section having its wales running in a vertical direction to provide horizontal stretch of the garment, said intermediate section having its Wales running in a vertical direction, and relatively inelastic means connecting the upper and intermediate sections and the intermediate and lower sections and extending across the garment from side to side thereof.

3. An undergarment composed of knitted material comprising a composite front panel having upper, intermediate and lower sections, the upper and intermediate sections extending from side to side, the said upper section extending from the waistline to substantially the groin line of the garment and from side to side thereof, the intermediate section extending from said groin line downwardly to and terminating just above the crotch, said intermediate section comprising two panels overlapping each other at the center of the garment 4and forming a ny opening, the lower section being attached to the lower edge of the 6 intermediate section and forming the front of the crotch portion of the garment, said upper section having its wales running in a vertical direction to provide horizontal stretch of the garment, said intermediate section having its wales running in a horizontal direction, and means connecting the upper and intermediate sections and the intermediate Iand lower sections and extending across the garment from side to side thereof.

ROTHERMEL WISE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,016,266 Earnshaw Oct. 1, 1935 2,027,622 Stam Jan. 14, 1936 2,114,634 Jean Apr. 19, 1938 2,255,931 Kloster Sept. 16, 1941 2,369,773 Brenner Feb. 20, 1945 2,377,004 Hanes May 29, 1945 

